Coring device



April 3, 1945. R. BENKE CORINGDEVICE Fiied June 6. 1944.

with an aperture 2 Patented Apr. 3, 1945 T orrlce oomNG DEVICE I Roy Benke, Shreveport, La., assignmm The Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 6, 1944, Serial No. 538,955 claims. (ol. Z55-1.4)

The present invention relates to improvements in sampling machines, and particularly a core cutting device which is adapted to be lowered into bore holes for the purpose of obtaining core samples of subsurface formations at different levels.

'I'his application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial Number 479,137, filed March 13, 1943, and entitled Coring device.

It is an object of this invention to take core samples within a well bore in such a manner that when the samples are brought to the surface the components thereof will be in the same relative position as when in the original formation. r

A further object of this invention is to provide a core cutting device, the operation of which may be controlled from the earths surface when lthe device isvpositoned at a predeterminedlevel in the well bore.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a core cutting device which is comparatively simple in construction, durable, highly eiilcient and reliable in use, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

My invention will be further understood with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2, partly in section, represent two modifications of my core cutting device. In the figures, corresponding lelements are similarly numbered.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Fig. 1, I designates an elongated, closed casing provided in the wall thereof.

'I'he casing I is divided into two compartments by the partition 3,.the upper compartment; en'- closing the electric motor 4 f rigidly positioned within the compartment by brackets 5 affixed to the wall thereof. The upper end of the casing I is further provided with an eye 6 to which a cable may be attached for lowering or raising the casing in the well bore. An electric conduit l is introduced through the casing to lsupply current for the motor 4 and is insulated from the wall by means of insulator 87. 'Ihe motor shaft 3 projecting downwardly through the bearing I0 'in partition 3 is provided with a small gear II to rotate the large gear I2 as will be hereinafter more -fully described.

lWithin the lower compartment ofcasing I is disposed a core bit barrel housing I3 inwhich is mounted a core bit barrel I4. As shown, the core bit barrel is partially projected through the aperture 2 of the casing I. Barrel I4 is rotated by suitable gears (not shown)y which are actuated and to the lower portion, sleeve22. ends-of sleevesv 2| and 22 are recessed orchanby means of flexible cable I5 connected to the lower end of the motor shaft 9.

Verticallyjournaled within the lower compartment of casing I is a rotatableshaft I6 provided with an upper bearing I'I and a lower bearing I 3. The upper portion of shaft I6 is threaded at I9, for example, with a right-hand thread, while the lower portion of the shaft is threaded at with a left-hand thread. correspondingly threaded to the upper portion of the shaf t I6 is sleeve 2l The outer neled at 23 and 24 respectively, to slide vertically along the rib 25 rigidlyaixed to the wall of the casing I.

Above sleeve 2| and below sleeve 22 are provided collars 26 and 2l respectively, which collars are slidablymounted upon the shaft I6. Arms 28 and 29 are pivotally connected ,at one end to the core bit barrel housing I3 and at the other end to collars 26 and 21 respectively. The pivotal connection of the arms may be made with the lugs on the front of the collars as shown, or may be made upon the side of the collars by means of stud bolts, thus offsetting the armsand the housing I3 and permitting further retraction ofthe housing into the casing I, and to one side of the threaded'shaft. Extending between the arms 28 and 29 adjacent the ends pivoted on collars 26 and 2l, is'an arm `tension spring 30 which tends to draw the arms 28 and 29 toward each othen Associated with shaft I6 at its mid-section, is a pair of flat springs` 3l and 32 of forked construction loosely surrounding the shaft, the outer ends. of such springs being rigidly affixed to the wall of casing I by means of brackets 33 and 34 respectively. Likewise, rigidly aftixed to the wall of casing I between brackets 33 and 34 is aguide bar 35 provided with a horizontal slot 36 accommodating pin v3'I- carried'by the core bit barrel housing i3.` Pin 37 is free to move in either di- Irection in slot 36 as the barrel housing I3 is projected or retracted, and functions in conjuncf tion with guide bar 35 to stabilize the housing I3 and prevent rotation or swinging thereof either transversely of casing I or in` the plane of the arms 28 and 29. A similar counterpart for guide bar 35 and pin'3'l may be provided on the opposite side of the housing I3, and is not visible in the drawing. Thus, with the use of two horizontal guide bars spaced from each other slightly more than the width or diameter of housing I3..- and with the slots in the guide bars, the .housing I4 may be projected or retracted between the I3 carrying the core bit barrell 4| rigidly attached to casing I by brackets-42.

and 43, respectively, are provided to enable collars 38 and 39 to engage the uppermost and lowermost threads of shaft I6 when suchshaft is rotated in the proper direction to project the core bit through aperture 2 in the casing.V In order to stabilize the barrel housing I3 against rotation or transverse swinging, there is aihxed to back of such housing, a bar or piston-like element 44 which telescopes into a slidable housing 45, which latter in turn telescopes into a second housing 46 rigidly attached to the wall of casing I' between brackets 33 and 3II. This guide or stabilizing arrangement is preferably lined up along the horizontal axis of the core bit barrel housing I3,

the vertical shaft I6 being slightly oiset to accommodate the stabilizer. \While not shown in detail, the element 41| and the slidable housing 45 are provided with'suitable stops to limit the horizontal movement thereof and to prevent the telescoping parts from becoming dis-assembled upon projection of opening 2 of casing Upon retraction of the the barrel housing |3 through thesleeves carry the collars 26 and 21 housing I3, the guide arrangement telescopes,

one part within the other, and permits vthe housing I3 to be .withdrawn into casing I sufficiently to bring the core bit barrel I4 within the opening 2 of casing I.

In the operation of the device of Fig. 1, the casing I, with the core bit barrel fully retracted, is lowered into the well bore to the desired level, and current is supplied to the motor 4 through the conduit 1. Rotation of the motor shaft 9 in turnv rotates the core bit barrel I4 through the medium of the flexible cable 5. Simultaneously. the small gear actuates the large gear I2 to rotate shaft I6, thereby causing` threaded sleeve 2| to move downwardly along the threaded por- .tion I9 of shaft I6, and threaded sleeve 22 to.

move upwardly along the threaded -portion 20ct shaft I6. Tension spring contracts thereby' causing collar 26 to follow sleeve 2| downwardly, and collar 21 to follow sleeve 22 upwardly along shaft I6. -As collars 2B and 21 approach one another under the influence of the .tension spring,

the arms 28 and 29 pivoted on the collars and on4 the core bit barrel housing I3 cause the housing carrying the core bit barrel to project outwardly through the aperture 2 of casing I. The revolving core bit is thus forced into contact with the formation, thereby cutting a core sample which is retained in the core bit barrel. The ratio of gear I| to gear I2 ispreferably adjusted so that the rate of projection of the core .bit corresponds with the cutting speedvor the ability` of thecore bit to penetrate the formation. In theevent that a formation of exceeding hardness'is encountered, the sleeves 2| and 22 may approach one another at a faster rate than the core bit is able to cut into the formation. The sleeves 2| and 22, upon reaching the ends of their paths of travel toward the mid-section of shaft I6, become disengaged fro'm threaded portions I9 and 20 of the shaft, and are maintained .in contact with at springs 3| and 32, respectively. As the cutting proceeds, the collars 26 and 21 carrying arms 28 and 29,

under the influence of the tension spring 30, ap-

proach one another and may eventually again of rotation'of the gear contact sleeves 2l and 22 respectively. Upon completion of the cutting operation. the arms 28 and 29 may be in a substantially horizontal position, the core bit having been projected to its fullest extent. In order to retract the core bit barrel containing'the core sample, the casing I, may be slightly raised or lowered to break oi the core at its base, while the bit is still in the formation. The supply of current to the motor is then reversed, and the motor shaft carrying the gear II is rotated in the opposite direction. The direction |-2 islikewise reversed, as is that of shaft I6. The sleeves 2| and 22, which up.to this time have been riding free on the mid-section of the shaft, are urged upwardly and downwardly respectively by the at springs* 3| and 32, and take hold or engage the threads on the inner end portions of I9 and 20 respectively. Sleeve 2| moves upwardly while sleeve 22 moves downwardly, rotation of the sleeves being prevented by the rib 25 slidably engaging the channels V23 and 24 of the sleeves. In moving upwardly and downwardly, respectively, the in opposite directions along shaft |6, pulling the arms 28 and 28, inwardly, and thus fully retracting the barrel housing I3 carrying the core bit barrel I4 containing the core sample. When fully retracted, the casing may be raised to the surface and the core sample removed from the core bit barrel. During the operation of projecting or retracting the core bit barrel, the housing I3 is prevented from swinging laterally,

, arms28 and 29, by means of the guide bar 35 and asy ting of device pin 31 associated therewith.

In utilizing that modification of my core cutting illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the operation is essentially similar to that described with reference to Fig. 1, with the exception that the tension spring 30 is dispensed with and the threaded collars 38 and39 are actuated directly by means of threaded portions I9 and 20 of shaft I6. Since the system shown in this modification is inflexible, care must be taken to coordinate the r rate of ,projection of the core bit with respect'to the cutting speed or the ability of the core bit to penetrate the formation. 'I'his modification is moreadapted for use in coring relatively soft formations, since there is less likelihood of binding or freezing the mechanism. However, by employing a relatively high core bit speed and a low rate ofl projection, such difficulty may be avoided.

While the operation of my core cutting device may be controlled from the earths surface by supplying current to the motor for a period suiiicient to effect projection of the core bit and cutthe core sample, and thereafter reversing the vflow-of current to accomplish retraction of 'the core bit, such control may be made fully automatic,'if desired, by installing in the casing a plurality of limit switches or reversing switches actuated by contact with the vcore bit barrel housing I3 when same has been projectedor retracted to the desired extent.v l

`Whi1e the foregoing description presents a preferred embodiment of the invention and'certain modifications thereof, the invention is notconfined to the specific details described. Numerous changes and mpdications may be made both in general appearance and arrangement of the elements, and such changes and modifications are intended tp come within the scope of the appended claims.

or in the plane of thev I claim:

1. A device for cutting core samples, comprising a casing having an aperture in one wall thereof, a core bit barrel housing disposed within said casing, a rotatable core bit barrelmounted in said housing for movement through said aperture, guide means for stabilizing the core bit barrel housing, a rotatable shaft journaled within said casing, said shaft being provided with op- Iposed threads, means for rotating said core bit barrel and said shaft, and means for projecting and retracting said core bit barrel relative to said aperture `comprising collar means operatively associated with the opposed threads of said shaft and arms\ pivotally connected with vsaid collar means and said core bit barrel housing.

2. A device -for cutting core samples, comprising an elongated casing having an. aperture in the wall thereof, a core bit barrel housing disposed within said casing, a rotatable core bit barrel horizontally mounted in said housing and adapted for limited projection through the aperture of said casing, a guidemember horizontally disposed in said casing to stabilize the core bit barrel housing, a motor disposed within said casing, means connecting said -motor and said core bit barrel to rotate said barrel, a rotatable threaded shaft journaled within said casing and operably connected to said motor, a pair of sleeves threaded upon said shaft and adapted to approach one another upon rotation of the shaft in one direction and to depart from one another upon rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction, a pair of collars slidably mounted upon said shaft without saidsleeves and adapted to follow the travel of said Asleeves upon iat? the opposed threaded sections of said shaft and adapted to approach one another upon rotation of the shaft in one direction and to depart from one another upon rotationof the shaft in the opposite direction, a pair of 'collars slidably mounted upon said shaft without said sleeves and adapted to follow the travel of said sleeves up'on said shaft, afpair of arms each pivotally connected at one end to said core bit barrel housing and at the other end to each of' said collars respectively, and a spring urging said arms to approach one another'and to project-the core bit barrel through the aperturelin said casing.

4. A device for cutting core samples, comprising an elongated casing having an aperture in .the wall thereof, a core bit'barrel housing disk posed within said casing, a rotatable core bit barrel horizontally mounted in said housing'and adapted for limited projection through the aperture of said casing, a guidemember horizontally disposed in said casing to stabilizethe corebit barrel housing, a motor disposed within said' casing, means connectingA said motor and said core bit barrel to rotate said barrel, a rotatable' threaded shaft journaled within `said casing and` operabl'y connected to said motor, a pair of sleeves threaded upon 'said shaft and adapted to approachone another upon rotation of the said shaft, means pivotally connecting said barrel housing and said collars, and tension means urging said`pivotally connecting means to project the core bit barrel through the aperture in said casing.

3. A device for cutting core samples, compris'- ing an elongated casing having an aperture in the wall thereof, a core bit barrel housing disposed within said casing, a'rotatable core bit barrelhorizontally mounted in said housing and' adapted for limited projection through the apen.- ture of said casing, a guide member horizontally disposed in said casing to stabilize the core bit barrel housing, a motor disposed vertically within said casing, a exible cable connecting said motor and said core bit barrel to rotate said barrel, a rotatable shaft'journaled vertically within said casingl and geared to said motor, said shaft having two threaded sections of opposed pitch, a pair of sleeves respectively threaded upon barrel housing, a motor disposed vertically within said casing, a. exible cable connecting said motor and said core bit barrel to rotate said barrel, a, rotatable shaft journaled within said casing and geared to said motor, said shaft having two threaded sections of Vopposed pitch, a `pair ot 'sleeves respectively threaded upon the opposed threaded sections of said shaft andiedapfed t0 approach one another on rotation-of the shaft in one direction and to d part fromone another upon rotation of the v shaft in the opposite direc-- tion, and a pair of arms each pivotally connected at one end to said core bit barrel housing -and at the other end to veach of saidsleeves respec-` tively.

v 'ROY BENKE. 

